Seismicity of the Earth 1900-2010 eastern margin of the Australia plate

Benz, Harley M.; Herman, Matthew; Tarr, Arthur C.; Hayes, Gavin P.; Furlong, Kevin P.; Villasenor, Antonio; Dart, Richard L.; Rhea, Susan

Abstract:

The eastern margin of the Australia plate is one of the most seismically active areas of the world due to high rates of convergence between the Australia and Pacific plates. In the region of New Zealand, the 3,000 km long Australia-Pacific plate boundary extends from south of Macquarie Island to the southern Kermadec Island chain. It includes an oceanic transform (the Macquarie Ridge), two oppositely verging subduction zones (Puysegur and Hikurangi), and a transpressive continental transform, the Alpine Fault through South Island, New Zealand. Since 1900, there have been 15 M7.5+ earthquakes recorded near New Zealand. Nine of these, and the four largest, occurred along or near the Macquarie Ridge, including the 1989 M8.2 event on the ridge itself, and the 2004 M8.1 event 200 km to the west of the plate boundary, reflecting intraplate deformation. The largest recorded earthquake in New Zealand itself was the 1931 M7.8 Hawke‘s Bay earthquake, which killed 256 people. The last M7.5+ earthquake along the Alpine Fault was 170 years ago; studies of the faults‘ strain accumulation suggest that similar events are likely to occur again.

Genre:

USGS Numbered Series

ProdID:

70006291

Citation Author:

Benz, Harley M.; Herman, Matthew ; Tarr, Arthur C.; Hayes, Gavin P.; Furlong, Kevin P.; Villasenor, Antonio ; Dart, Richard L.; Rhea, Susan

Citation Contributing Office:

Geologic Hazards Science Center

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Citation Language:

English

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Citation LatN:

-0100000

Citation LatS:

-0570000

Citation LonE:

-1650000

Citation LonW:

01600000

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Citation Phsyical Description:

1 Plate: 24.01 x 35.70 inches

Citation Projection:

Albers Equal Area Conic

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Citation Publisher:

U.S. Geological Survey

Citation Series:

Open-File Report

Citation Series Code:

OFR

Citation Series Number:

2010-1083-I

Citation Search Results Text:

Seismicity of the Earth 1900-2010 eastern margin of the Australia plate; 2011; OFR; 2010-1083-I; Benz, Harley M.; Herman, Matthew ; Tarr, Arthur C.; Hayes, Gavin P.; Furlong, Kevin P.; Villasenor, Antonio ; Dart, Richard L.; Rhea, Susan